Amesbury will welcome Gemma Bryant, from Riverdale School in Palmerston North, joining Te Rito (Yes, two Gemmas!) and Stephanie Coleman from Solway Primary, Masterton, in Koru. Harakeke will also have two new teachers: Georgia Poole, from Bombay School in Auckland and Natasha Carroll from Thorndon School.
Our current student teachers, Hazel Urquhart and Erin Upjohn Beatson will be joining the staff. Hazel will be based in Harakeke, while Erin will be working across the school, with responsibility for sport.
Congratulations to Gemma Williamson who has been made permanent after a stunning first year, and will continue in Te Rito in 2017. Also continuing with us in 2017 are Derek Champion and Jeewon Um in Koru. Congratulations (and farewell) to Sonali Singh who has won a place in the Master Of Teaching Programme at Victoria University for 2017. We will miss her, but wish her all the best.
Lisa Bengtsson will be returning from maternity leave to Harakeke, while we'll be saying "ka kite ano (see you again)" to Amaria Picard, who will be going on maternity leave at the end of Week 3 in Term 1.
Finally, haere ra to Dan Miller and Marianne Malmstrom who will be taking up new opportunities in 2017. Farewell to Merrick, who has been with us for quite a number of years as a sports coach. Who knows... he may return in a similar role sometime in the future.
A big farewell to Elizabeth Barr who has been our faithful library assistant for some years now. She has decided it is time to hand over the library to younger hands.
Whatever you are doing, we wish all of you the best for a wonderful 2017!
